Socket connector having contact terminal incorporated with self-repelling contact tip

ABSTRACT

An electrical device for electrically connection an electronic component, comprises a substrate, and a plurality of contact units mounted on the substrate. The contact units each comprises a lower contact positioned on the substrate and an upper contact coupled to the lower contact. The upper contact is floatably received in a receiving space defined by the lower contact and upward and downward movement of the upper contact relative to the lower contact are limited by the lower contact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a socket connector, and more particularly to a socket connector incorporated with contact terminal having self-repelling tip which can be pushed into a nest when a load is applied, and extended outwardly once the load is released.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Electrical socket with two-piece contact units is widely used for electrically connecting two electronic components because it can easily connect with electronic components. The contact unit is generally comprising an upper contact and a lower contact assembled with the upper contact. Usually, the lower contact is retained in passageway of the electrical socket and the upper contact is moveable relative to the lower contact in vertical direction. When the electrical socket is coupled to the electronic components, the upper contact is moved downwardly toward the lower contact under pressure from the electronic component. Therefore, loading force ensuring the component contacting with the contact unit is comparably low. A typical socket with two-piece contact units is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,209 issued to Amico on Jun. 22, 1993.

However, the upper contact is received in the insulative housing of the electrical socket and limited by inner wall of the housing. Additionally, sometimes, the housing further comprises a lower housing portion for retaining the lower contact, and an upper housing seated upon the lower housing for receiving and limiting upward movement of the upper contact. Obviously, the structure of the electrical socket is too complicated.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,602 issued to Hwang on Apr. 11, 2006 also discloses a two-piece contact unit for electrical device. The contact unit comprises an upper contact pin, a lower contact pin and a spring fitted over a predetermined area between the upper and lower contact pin. The contact uses the spring as a resilient biasing member for urging the upper contact back to its original position after force acted on the contact is released. Obviously, the contact has a complicated structure.

Therefore, it is needed to find a new socket assembly to overcome the problems mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical device for connecting two electronic components, which comprises a plurality of contact units each with self-releasing arrangement between an upper contact and a lower contact, thus making the contact unit and the electrical device having a simple structure and a lower manufacturing cost.

In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical device for electrically connection an electronic component, comprises a substrate, and a plurality of contact units mounted on the substrate. The contact units each comprises a lower contact positioned on the substrate and an upper contact coupled to the lower contact. The upper contact is floatably received in a space defined by the lower contact and upward and downward movement of the upper contact relative to the lower contact are limited by the lower contact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of the contact unit of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the contact unit of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric cross-sectional view of the electrical device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein an electronic component is ready to be mounted thereon;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, showing the contact unit being deformed when the electronic component is pressed toward the contact unit; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric cross-sectional view of an electrical device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, which shows a lower contact of the contact unit soldered to a substrate of the electrical device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the electrical device 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention for electrically connecting with an electronic component 2 comprises a substrate 10 (e.g. a PCB), and a number of contact units 12 mounted on the substrate 10.

The contact unit 12 comprises a lower contact 120, an upper contact 122. The lower contact 120 comprises a base portion 1200 and two arms 1202 extending upwardly from opposite edges of the base portion 1200 to jointly create a nest. The arms 1202 each comprises a first section 1204 extending upwardly and away from the other arm, and a second section 1206 extending upwardly and bending toward the other arm from a end of the first section 1204. Therefore, a peak 1208 is formed between the first section 1204 and the second section 1206. Obviously, distance between the two peaks 1208 of the two arms 1202 is larger than maximum width of the upper contact 122. Therefore, the two arms 1202 define a receiving space allowing the upper contact 122 to be received therein.

The upper contact 122 is generally of a shape of ellipsoid. After the upper contact 122 is disposed into the nest of the lower contact 120. The upper contact 122 is moveable relative to the lower contact 120 when an external load is applied and released. Referring to FIGS. 3-4, bottom end 1220 of the upper contact 122 is located below the peak 1208. Main portion of the second sections 1206 of the arms 1202 are located above central portion 1202 of the upper contact 122. Distance between free ends of the two arms is greater than maximum width of the upper contact 122. Thereby, a self-locking arrangement is formed between the upper contact 122 and the lower contact 120 for limiting upward movement of the lower contact 120. Moreover, the second section 1206 each comprises two wings 1209 bending from opposite edges thereof, so as to limit upward movement of the upper contact 122 relative to the lower contact 120

Referring to FIGS. 3-4, before the electronic component 2 is coupled to the electrical device 1, the upper contact 122 is loosely retained by the two arms 1202 of the lower contact 120. When the electronic component 2 is pushed downwardly toward the electrical device 1, the upper contact 122 is pressed downwardly toward the lower contact 120. Accordingly, the two arms 1202 of the lower contact 120 will exert elastic deformation under stress from the upper contact 1202 and then will exert elastic force. Thus, the two arms 1202 will tightly contact with the upper contact 122. Meanwhile, the upper contact 122 contacts with pad 20 on the electronic component 2. Therefore, electrical connection between the electronic component 2 and the electrical device 1 is established. When the electrical component 2 is removed from the contact unit, the upper contact 12 will move back to its original position under the elastic force from the lower contact 120.

The lower contact 120 is mounted on the substrate 10, which can achieved by multiple means. Referring now to FIG. 3, a post 1210 extends from a bottom end of the base portion 1200, so as to be inserted into corresponding hole on the substrate 10. In this embodiment, the post 1210 is a split portion of the base portion 1200, which bends downwardly. Referring to FIG. 5, as an alteration, the lower contact 120 may be soldered onto the substrate 10 by solder mass 3. Accordingly, electrical connection between the contact unit 12 and the substrate 10 is established.

In order to ensure reliable electrical connection between the electronic component 2 and the contact unit 12, a position-limiting mechanism 14 may be formed on the substrate 10. The position-limiting mechanism 14 is provided with a receiving cavity for receiving the electronic component 2. The position-limiting mechanism 14 has at leas two supporting posts 140 spaced to each other and mounted on a peripheral region around the contact units 12 of the substrate 10, respectively. The supporting posts 140 each defines a step 142 thereon and steps 142 on two sidewalls jointly define a seating plane for supporting the electronic component 2.

The lower contact 120 is loosely received in the space of the lower contact 120 and upward and downward movement of the upper contact 122 are limited by the lower contact 120. Therefore, the contact unit 12 has a simple structure. Furthermore, the lower contact 120 uses two arms 1202 to achieve function of the self-locking/releasing and cost is low.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without in any way departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1: An electrical device for electrically connecting an electronic component, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of contact units mounted on the substrate, each contact unit comprising a lower contact positioned on the substrate and an upper contact coupled to the lower contact; and wherein the upper contact is floatably received in a space defined by the lower contact; and wherein when a downward force is applied on the upper contact, the upper contact is moved downwardly toward the lower contact, and after the downward force is released, the upper contact is moved back to its original position under force from the lower contact due to deformation; and wherein the upper contact has a bottom portion to contact with the lower contact when the downward force applied on the upper contact and a top portion to contact and lock with the lower contact, the bottom portion and the upper portion are both located in the receiving space when the downward force is not applied. 2: The electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper contact is generally of a shape of ellipsoid with a bigger central portion and two end portions located at opposite sides of the central portion, and the receiving space has a similar shape to snugly receive the upper contact therein. 3: The electrical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower contact comprises a base portion, and two arms extending upwardly from opposite edges of the base portion, the space being defined by the two arms. 4: The electrical device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the arms each comprises a first section extending away the other arm and a second section bending toward the other arm from a end of the first section. 5: The electrical device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second sections each defines a pair of wings bending from opposite edges thereof toward the other second section to prevent the upper contact from laterally moving with regard to the lower contact. 6: The electrical device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a bottom end of the upper contact is located below a peak between the first section and second section. 7: The electrical device as claimed in claim 6, wherein maximum width of the upper contact is larger than maximum distance between the two first sections in horizontal direction. 8: The electrical device as claimed in claim 7, wherein further comprises a position-limiting mechanism disposed on the substrate and extending upwardly for allowing the electronic component seated thereon. 9: An contact unit for connecting an electronic component to a substrate, comprising: a lower contact, provided with a receiving space; an upper contact assembled within the receiving space of the lower contact; the upper contact being able to be moved downwardly toward the lower contact under external downward force from the electronic component and upwardly under force from the lower contact due to deformation after the external downward force is released; and wherein the upper contact is still located in the receiving space on the condition that first sections of the lower contact will urge the upper contact to move upwardly and meanwhile second sections of the lower contact provide a self-locking arrangement to stop the upper contact moving upward. 10: The contact unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein upward and downward movement of the upper contact relative to the lower contact are limited by the lower contact. 11: The contact unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the upper contact is generally of a shape of ellipsoid. 12: The contact unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lower contact comprises a base portion, and two arms extending upwardly from opposite edges of the base portion, the space being defined by the two arms. 13: The contact unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the arms each comprises the first section and the second section, and the first section extending away the other arm and the second section bending toward the other arm from an end of the first section. 14: The contact unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein bottom end of upper contact is located below a peak between the first section and second section in horizontal direction. 15: The contact unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein maximum width of the upper contact is larger than maximum distance between the two second sections in horizontal direction. 16: The contact unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein maximum width of the upper contact is larger than maximum distance between the two first sections in the horizontal direction. 17: An electrical assembly comprising: a board cooperating with positioning limiting mechanism to commonly define a receiving space; and a plurality of contact sets disposed in the receiving space, each of said contact sets defining an upper contact configured to be orbicular, and a lower contact having a lower section mounted to the board and an upper section defining a configuration essentially in compliance with the upper contact with a converged upward opening thereof; wherein the upper contact is snugly received and up and down moveable in the upper section with an upper end of said upper contact extending above the converged upward opening for being downwardly pressed by a corresponding pad on an underside of an electronic package under condition that the converged upward opening restrains excessive upward movement of the upper contact; and wherein when the upper end of the upper contact is downwardly pressed by the electronic package, a lower half of said upper contact is urged upwardly by the lower contact for restoration. 18: The electrical assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the positioning limiting mechanism defines a supporting face for abutting against the underside of the electronic package. 19: The electrical assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the upper section of the lower contact is deformed to allow downward movement of the upper contact when said upper contact is downwardly pressed by the pad of the electronic package, and resumes to an original shape to push the upper contact back to an upper position when the electronic package no longer downward presses the upper contact. 20: The electrical assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lower section of the lower contact constantly urges the upper contact upwardly. 